The calls were against Marcio Lassiter in his San Miguel Beermen’s 2019 PBA Philippine Cup clash with Alaska Aces, Sunday night. He had already been whistled for four personal fouls in just the game’s first two quarters.
“He was unlucky,” said San Miguel head coach Leo Austria.
Lassiter’s absence on the floor disrupted the Beermen’s flow. Moreover, San Miguel could not cut themselves loose from the clutches of Alaska — they went down by 10 early and headed into the break behind by five points.
But luckily for them, Von Pessumal stepped up for the hounded Lassiter.
The third-year guard joined hands with Arwind Santos, and they helped the Beermen pull away early in the fourth quarter all the way to the resounding 114-96 win that avenged their 93-96 loss to Phoenix Pulse Fuel last weekend.
“Ako I’m just ready to play every game. I know sometimes things dont go your way, like kanina three fouls si Marcio. In order for us to try to go back to the game, I have to step up talaga,” said Pessumal, who finished with 14 points.
“It’s more of my team needs me so kailangan talaga I have to step up.”
“Von Pessumal, talagang nag-step up siya because Marcio was unlucky … I’m so happy with Von and the rest of the bench,” lauded the decorated Austria, as the Beermen’s bench chipped in 39 points to their total output.
The win improved SMB to 7-4. Though already assured of a good spot in the quarterfinals, Pessumal said that this victory is a good morale-booster heading into the next round, which is projected to start in the first week of April.
“It’s always good to win especially ‘pag malapit na playoffs kasi not only do we get better positioning, but our confidence coming into the playoffs mataas,” said the sweet-shooting swingman out of Ateneo de Manila.
“We came off a loss sa out-of-town, ‘di ba, so important for us to get this morale high with this win so hopefully we can keep going until the playoffs.”
